Mmmmm… nothing like opening a door to the aroma of baking bread. And this was the delightful gift that Grandma Fields gave to her family over and over and over again. If bread wasn’t baking in the oven, then you were sure to find dough rising in a bowl, or already freshly made and ready for slicing. Her incredible specialty was cinnamon rolls. Oh, I can smell them and taste them right now. And I can picture her humble smile while we raved on and on.

I was only blessed to know this woman for a few years of my life. She was Gary’s Grandma, and she lived in Gage, Oklahoma. I only got to stay in her home one time and have a bath in her old claw-foot tub. Oh yes… there was fresh bread waiting for us when we arrived.

She was a small woman, full of strength and character. One of those pioneer women I so admire and look up to. I’ve seen the house they lived in “out on the farm”. Those people were amazing… pumping their water, raising their food! What beautiful examples they set for us of hard work and determination.

Today was her birthday. Wish I could have one of her cinnamon rolls. Wish I could have known her longer. Grandma, someday we’ll sit down together and eat more bread. Someday.

6 Responses to “Grandma Fields”

When we complain about some sort of minor hang nail in life, we need to remember one of these incredible pioneer women who have blessed our lives. I join you today, Sandy, in celebrating humble women of strength and character.

She was indeed a special lady. I recall a special time when Randy was only 2 years old. She stayed with me for a whole week in Dumas Texas. We baked bread and cinnamon rolls, she crocheted, and we simply enjoyed each others company. She was a very wise woman who was faithful to read her Bible every night. Her eye sight was poor, but she said every time she read the Word, God revealed more to her. I loved her and thank her for the heritage she passed on. Oh yes…her cinnamon rolls were the best.

“The last time Mom got to come to Arkansas was from Feb. 4 to Mar 4, 1989. While she was there, Bobby got to come home every day to a fresh batch of bread or cinnamon rolls. My neighbor, Shirley, decided she wanted Mom to teach her to make bread, so while we were at work, Shirley came over and they mixed up a batch of bread. Since it was the middle of Feb., and rather chilly and damp, Mom decided to set the pan of bread on top of a pan of warm water so it would rise quicker, and covered it with a towel. They went into the living room to visit while it was rising. Pretty soon, they heard a KERPLOPP. When they went to see what the noise was, the bread had risen over the side of the bowl, and was upside down in the kitchen floor (fortunately with the towel between the dough and the floor.) Mom made Shirley promise not to tell me what had happened, and guess what the first thing was that Mom told me. Shirley and I still laugh about how Mom made her promise not to tell me, then told me as soon as I got home. I’m sure we all had bread for supper that night. What a precious person she was!”

She was a very special person to me. I learned a lot from her. She taught me how to sew to make my four girls dresses, she taught me how to make bread, she taught a class to the women of my church we all brought our pans and mixing bowls and ingredients needed and she taught us step by step and then we all took it home and came up with lots of bread, she really enjoyed doing that for the young ladies.
She was always there when we needed her.
We always looked forward to her stay in the winter since our winters were not as cold. we have some very beautiful memories and cherish them. She was a mom to me.

WOW! I am glad I began reading your blogs Sandy! You made me smile and brought a big tear to my eye at the same time. We only saw her about twice a year while I was growing up until grandpa passed away. After that she would come spend a few weeks a year at our house…and wasn’t it great. My mom is an excellent cook but she worked full time so the cooking was limited. Grandma always made us home-made bread and cinnamon rolls! Those were the best. But I have two very dear memories of Grandma. The first was when we visited her house she had a living room full of National Geographic magazines and she told me she saved them all just for me! She knew I loved reading those magazines. Her & I could sit in a room for several hours and not say a word but it felt like we had hours of conversation. It’s great because my dad is the same way and his personality is so much like hers. And my other memory that I can touch and feel all the time was the quilt she made for me for graduation! Everytime I pull that out of the closet to use it brings back wonderful memories of Grandma! I think about her failing eyesight and her hands working diligently to complete it. I hear tell that the last of us grandkids received our blankets a couple years earlier than graduation due to her many health issues. I am so grateful for the legacy and heritage she left.
Thanks for blogging about Grandma and the sweet memories you have brought back.